Animal abuse used as psychological violence against women

Animal abuse is increasingly recognized as a strategic tool for psychological violence against women. In domestic violence contexts, aggressors may target pets to exert control, instill fear, and signal that they can destroy anything the victim loves.

This dynamic is known internationally as ‘The Link’, which describes the correlation between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence. Research conducted by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil explores these connections, highlighting how pets are often used as instruments of blackmail and submission within abusive relationships.